Binocular optical instrument



April 21, 1931. H. s. COVER 1,802,048

BINOCULAR OPTICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1931. H. s. COVER BINOCULAR OPTICAL INSTRUMENT April 2l,

Filed June 6. 1929 m lulti-.- w W M r 5 W ,y W w a a ,-HMHLH m i N z C I? f l C m" Wm fr... y f [fw 9 1. .l u. M 4 MW w .m 3 @4 .u w

April 2l, 1931. H. s. covERf 1,802,048

BINOCULAR OPTICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 6, 1929 5 SheetsfSheet 3 ZZ ,y A

*9 v ji Weiz/Zw? Patented Apr. 21, 1931 STAT-fes' 'HARVEY is. COVER, ori/SOUTH BEND, :NniANii gfr ioFfFi CE l' '.BrNooULARfoPTIc-ALE INSTRUMENT Application -yled--.1i1ne` 6,

This invention .relatesto binocular. optical instrumenta and Fan. obj ect of .the invention istoprovide an improved instrument'o'f .thisy `theconnecting and supporting members;

. f approximately they samellvertical `plane .in ad- A *"vance of thefeyesof fthe user, andfin rwhich certain ofithe-lightray reflecting prismsare v.located to the rear of theeyesofthe user. In

` :15. carrying. out .this principle, ,a Yf iirtlier ect is toadapt thefdeviceto theheadxoftheuser,

.and therefore a'furtherobject.residesinpron ocular .lens fand associatedprism shown in F.ig. 7.

viding a balancedinstrument Lwhichfmay be `steadily supported uponthe headof-tlieuser i i220 'andthus dispense .withfthe irksomeness, `fav'aigue and .consequent .unsteadiness incident Ito former types.

. additional :objectrislgto provide for. a wide scope Vof ustmentst especially the; ad-

' ".25 justment for. stereoscopic vision,.;wliereby. the

instrument maybe adapted "for the magnr,V

.iiedobservation -.of l,both inear .rand f-arobjects. .A .further .Objectis.theemployment.of rrearwardly. tapering abarrels .ortiibes, vthus 30 permitting, of-mcreasediliead.. rooin.allowing r.forrgthe use of.,.shortfintegral, :double reflect- ,fing prisms, and rutilizing =a jsiipportfasipart .of-.the,adjusting.mechanisiml. in -.'connectioni.l Y v .j Y

I.tionedloelowlobjective lens 14 is a second inr-with Ithe general .provisionlffor .horizontal as Y"35. `well* as .verticalsteroscopic- .adjustment .andy

pupillary adjustment. i Y 1 @ther objects .will .appear hereinafter.

. The invention. consists gin'. .theco1.lbinations and arrangementsof parts hereinafina'de- 40 .scribed and claimed.

l fIhe invention will. .be.,.best. ,understood by vreference to ,the accompanying drawings .formingapart ofthis spe'ciicatiomanfl/in j I as-shown in; Figj9, which carries ocular lenses 20,21. By this construction and `arrange- Ywhich:

. Support vand .the Iposition .relativeltothe head .offthe user.;

`I`.i`g.",12` is l aihorizontal perspective view .of

Fig. 1 isa "front perspective viewof'the wdevicein actual..use, showingfthemanner of l y y j Y jing the ocularpiece .in the tube 18.

z'jective n suraew? .of Vprism 1 5. and ,thence refletd.

1.929. v sriaixno. 368,859.

Fig. .3 isa horizontal sectional view taken .throughtlie objective lenses, the upper portion of the rear reflecting prisms, and through F ig.4. is an elevational View of the 4`left- 55 .hand tubular member and ocular, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

5 is a-vertical sectional view-taken sub- -stantiallyon the line V5-5 of Fig. 3;

Figjis a vertical sectional view of tlieleft ,tubular .member Figa 7 isa horizontal sectional view of the tubular member, Vtaken' substantially `through the center;

.Fig..8.isfa vertical :view taken substantially .onthe line8-8 of Fig. 3 ;v and,

..`Fig..9. isan enlarged sectional view Vof the As [illustrated in the drawings, the pre- `ferred embodiment of the invention comprises ,tubularor barrel members 12 and 13 which A.maybe.rectangular in cross-sectional outline, ...andfwhich may taperrearwardly as shown in jFig.. 3to reduce the bull; of the instrument.

flnasmuch. as theconstruction and arrange- -mentofftheparts with respect to each of the a verticallymounted integral prism 15. Positegral reecting prism 16, mounted in a trans- .verse tubular portion 17 as shown in Fig. 7

-and thus -adaptedfto extend inwardly lof the instrument,vas shown in Fig. VExtending rearwardly of tubular portion 17, vand substantially vat right angles thereto is an ocular tube Q18, fpreferably. internally threaded as .shown in Fig. 7, for engagement withthe external-threads upon the ocular member 19,

Aray oflight A passing through the oblens 14L is reflected downwardly by forwardly by surface 23 of prism 15, the latter being tilted at the proper angle to cause the forwardly projected ray to strike surface 24 of integral prism 1G which causes the change of direction shown in Fig. 7 and the light ray is then reflected by surface 25 outwardly through ocular lens 20. The oppositely disposed tube 13, and associated parts, are provided with corresponding lenses and prisms including ocular lens 26, transverse prism containing tube 27, prism 28, as shown in Fig. 8, and rear integral prism 29, corresponding to prism 15 as shown in Fig. 5. Tube or barrel 13 also carries objective lens 30 corresponding to lens 14.

To permit of pupillary adjustment and also to cooperate in other adjustments hereinafter described, a tube 31 is rigidly secured to barrel 12 by means of bracket 32 and is provided upon its outer extremity with right-hand threads 33. Extending inwardly from barrel 13 is a corresponding member 34 having outer left-hand threads and adapted to support a transverse rod 35 which telescopes within tube 31, as shown in Fig. 3, to render the parts more stable and rigid in the different adjusted positions. A sleeve member 36 is provided with internal right and left-hand threads for threaded engagement with portions 33 and 34, whereby upon turning member 36 in one direction the distance between the oculars is increased and by turning in the opposite direction the distance is decreased. Mounted upon the inner surface of barrel 13, adjacent the rear extremity thereof, is an inner'projecting member 37 provided with external left-hand threads, and also having a rod extension 38 adapted to telescope within tube 39, having an external right-hand threaded portion 40. An adjusting sleeve 41 carries internal right and lefthand threads for threaded engagement with portions 37 and 40, whereby a decrease or increase in the distance between barrels 12 and 13 may be accomplished similar to the operation in connection with sleeve member 36. Tubular member 39 is secured to a plate 42 having vertically slidable engagement by means of inturned flanges 43 with a bracket 44 secured to the inner surface of barrel 12. An adjusting screw 45 has threaded engagement with an upwardly extending boss 46 upon tube 39, and is provided with an annular groove adapted to be engaged by the inner edge portion of the forked extremity 47 of the inturned portion 48 of bracket 44. Thus, b manipulating the adjusting screw 45, vertical angular adjustment of barrel 12 with relation to barrel 13 may be had. This adjustment is desirable in a binocular instrument of this character becauseof the comparative length of the barrels and consequent comparatively great focal length. The adjustment is also desirable to obtain greater accuracy in connection with the stereoscopic adjustment. The stereoscopic adjustment is accomplished by manipulation of the sleeve members 34 and 40 which permits of deviation of the relative positions of barrels 12 and 13 from a true parallel relation to a varying angular disposition in t-he horizontal plane. Thus it will be seen that each tube or barrel represents an optical system adapted to convey light rays to the oculars, and the construction and arrangement enable the prisms and lenses to be enclosed and thus protected from injury. By tapering the main tubes rearwardly, greater head room is permitted which also enables reduction in length of the for ward reflecting prisms by reason of which they may be made integral as shown. The transverse connecting and adjusting members permit of horizontal stereoscopic adjustment, the adjusting screw 45 enables vertical stereoscopic adjustment, and the device combines in compact form a binocular telescopic and stereoscopic instrument of large magnifying power andy range, while retaining the prism erecting system by distributing and balancing the various parts, utilizing reflecting prisms.

The'support for the head of the user is preferably in the form of a plurality of flexible or elastic straps 49, suspended from the adj acent tube sides by means of buckles 50. The cross-straps may be stitched as at 51, and the front and rear straps are preferably provided with adjusting buckles 52. In this manner the stl-raps may be readily adjusted and arranged to rest upon the head of the user, as

shown in Fig. l1, and bring the oculars in registry with the eyes, and by reason of the balanced arrangement the instrument may be used for long periods of. time withoutappreciable fatigue, and the device may be supported entirely by the head, leaving the hands ree;

While Ihave illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as vcome within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A binocular optical instrument, comprising two tubular members disposed in substantially parallel relation and spaced apart a sufficient distance to position said members on opposite sides of the head of the user, an objective lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, an ocular lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, refiecting prisms interposed between said objective and ocular lenses, and a transverse connecting member CFI ing two tubular members disposed in substantially parallel relation and spaced apart a sufficient distance to position said members on opposite sides of the head of the user, an objective lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, an ocular ylens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, reflecting prisms interposed between said objective and ocular lenses, a transverse connecting member eX- tending between said .tubular members and provided with means for selectively positioning said tubular members from a true parallel relation to an angular disposition in a horizontal plane, a plate secured to one end of said connecting member, a bracket provided with flanges for slidably engaging said plate, and means for selectively positioning said plate relatively to said bracket to change the relative vertical angular positions of said tubular members. Y

3. A binocular optical instrument, comprising two tubular members disposed in substantially parallel relation and spaced apart a sufficient distance to position said members on opposite sides of the -head of the user, an objective lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, an ocular lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, reflecting prisms interposed between said objective and ocular lenses, a transverse connecting member eX- tending between said tubular members and provided with means for selectively positioning said tubular members from a true parallel relation to an angular disposition in a horizontal plane, and a supporting member extending between said tubular members and adapted to rest upon the head of the user'for supporting saidinstrument.

4. A binocular optical instrument, comprising two tubular members disposed in substantially parallel relation and spaced apart a sufcient distance to position said membersV on opposite sides of the head of the user, an objective lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, an ocular lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, reflecting prisms interposed between saidobjective and ocular lenses, a transverse connecting member eX- tending between said tubular members and provided with means for selectively positioning said tubular members from a true parallel relation to an angular disposition in Va horizontal plane, a plate secured to one end of said connecting member, a bracket provided with flanges for slidably engaging 'said plate, meansfor selectively positioning said plate frelati'velyfto. said. bracket to change the relative ,ventical.,angular :positions of said tubular members, and a. supporting. member extending between said tubular members and adapted torest upontheiheadfof thel user for u support-ingisaidinstrument.I y

512' A'binocular optical 'nstrument, comprising ,twoetub'ular: members disposed in-substantially. parallel relation,l and spacedV apart a'isuiiicientfdistance to position said members onsopposite sides of theheadvof the user, an

objectivelens' mounted adjacent the forward portion offea'ch tubular member, a transverse frontprism: containing tube` mounted upon each tubular member, an ocular lens-mounted 1 adjacent v` the-linneneXtremity of each trans- ',versetube, reflectingprisms interposed between said objective* and ocular lenses, and a transverse vconnecting member extending be- .tweeni said tubular members and Aprovided i Y with: Imeans fori selectively positioningl said tubular members from a true parallel relaltiontoan angular'dispositionrin a horizontal prising two tubulanmembers disposed in subasufiicient distance to position said members one oppositev sides of thefheadIk ofthe-user, an objective lens mounted adjacent the forward portionuof each'tubular membenwa' transverse front'V prism containing tubemounted :upon eachtubularfmember, anfocular lens mounted adjacent the inner extremity of each transverse tube, reflecting prisms interposed between said objective and ocular lenses, a transverse connecting member extending between said tubular members and provided with means forselectively positioning said tubular members from a true parallel relation to an angular disposition in a horizontal plane, a plate secured to one end of said connecting member, a bracket provided with flanges for slidably engaging said plate, and means for selectively positioningsaid plate relatively to said bracket to change the relative vertical angular positions of said tubular members.

7 A binocular optical instrument, comprising two tubular members disposed in substantially parallel relation and spaced apart a sufiicient distance to position said members on opposite sides of the head of the user, an objective lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, a transverse front prism containing tube mounted upon each tubular member, an ocular lens mounted adjacent the inner extremity of each transverse tube, reflecting prisms interposed between said objectivel and ocular lenses, a transverse connecting member extending between said tubular members and provided with means for selectively positioning said tubular members from a true parallel relation to an angular disposition in a horizontal plane, and a supporting member extending yipo Gli

between said tubular members and adapted to rest upon the head of the used for supporting said instrument.

8. A binocular optical instrument comprising two tubular members disposed 1n substantially parallel relation and spaced a art a suicient distance to position said mem ers on op ite sides of the head of the user, an objective lens mounted adjacent the forward portion of each tubular member, a transverse front prism containing tube mounted upon each tubular member, an ocular lens mounted adjacent the inner extremity of said transverse tube, reflecting prisms interposed between said objective and ocular lenses, a transverse connecting member extending be tween said tubular members and provided with means for selectively positioning said tubular members from a true parallel relation to an angular disposition in a horizontal plane, a plate secured to one end of said connecting member, a bracket provided with flanges for slidably engaging said plate, means for selectively positioning said plate relatively to said bracket to change the relative vertical angular positions of said tubular members, and a su porting member extending between said tu ular members and adapted to rest upon the head of the user for supporting said instrument.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HARVEY S. COVER. 

